About Rashmi
Pronouns: She/her
Graduation year: December 2024
Previous University: Tribhuvan University
Q: Tell us about your background.
A: My name is Rashmi Pahari, and I'm originally from Nepal. I completed my bachelor's degree in civil engineering and an MBA in Nepal. I decided to pursue a Master's in Business Analytics from D'Amore-McKim to deepen my understanding of the corporate world, business, and analytics.
Before starting my master's program, I gained a year and a half of experience in the mortgage industry as a loan analyst, working with Australian clients through an outsourced company based in Nepal. This experience sparked my interest in advancing my skills and furthering my education.
Q: Why did you choose D'Amore-McKim for your Master's in Business Analytics degree?
A: I began exploring programs that offered strong analytics training and discovered Northeastern's Master's in Business Analytics. The program's exceptional reputation, coupled with the D'Amore-McKim School of Business's high ranking, significantly influenced my decision.
As a full-time international student, I also appreciate the career management class, which is specifically designed to prepare us for employment in the U.S. These factors collectively made Northeastern the ideal choice for my studies.
Q: What are your professional goals, and how will the master's in business analytics help you achieve them?
A: My long-term dream is to own an art gallery. I'm deeply passionate about art and architecture, and I envision creating a space where I can showcase my paintings and other artworks, either here or back in Nepal. A master's in business analytics degree will help me achieve this dream by equipping me with the business and analytical skills necessary to manage and grow such a venture effectively.
In the shorter term, over the next four to five years, I aim to reach a top-level position in the corporate world, gaining extensive experience in managing companies and understanding the business landscape in the U.S. This degree will provide me with the expertise needed to excel in the corporate sector and later apply those skills towards owning an art gallery.
Q: Tell us about the Community Impact Initiative.
A: For the Community Impact Initiative, I worked with Hatua Network. Headquartered in Brooklyn with field offices in Kenya, Hatua's mission is to end generational poverty by preparing promising youth from low-income families to thrive in Kenya's modern economy. My title was Database Consultant Intern.
In this role, I was part of a team responsible for several key tasks. I helped finalize the Scope of Work for consultants tasked with completing a database customization project and conducted a market analysis and feasibility study for expanding access to Hatua's mentoring and soft skills curriculum. I reviewed our current data templates and management practices, recommended redesigns, and created new templates to enhance our database.
I was also involved in researching and identifying consulting firms suited for our projects. This included participating in meetings with these firms, asking pertinent questions, and evaluating their proposals. Beyond these responsibilities, I assisted in data analysis across various projects, created market analysis reports, and developed marketing materials. This role allowed me to apply my analytical skills extensively and gain valuable experience in database management.
Q: How has your coursework prepared you for the role?
A: The coursework in D'Amore-McKim's Masters in Business Analytics program was designed to cover analytics from the ground up. Even though I initially had no prior coding background, the program taught me the essentials of analytics and coding in a structured way, enabling me to apply these skills effectively in my role.
For instance, the analytics courses provided a strong foundation in Python, which has been crucial for analyzing data at Hatua Network. Additionally, our coursework included practical applications using Tableau and Power BI. We were encouraged to learn these tools independently, which proved invaluable. At Hatua Network, we used Python for data analysis and Tableau for creating dashboards. Power BI, which we had learned about during the coursework, was initially used by the company. This knowledge allowed us to integrate their existing dashboards with the new ones we created using Tableau. This integration was essential for providing comprehensive data insights.
Q: How has your work with Hatua Network impacted your professional development?
A: The impactful work I'm doing with Hatua Network is the first experience connecting me to the American corporate world, as this was my first time working here. It has provided me with a significant professional boost and motivation. Engaging with various American firms, such as those using Salesforce, has greatly increased my confidence in interacting with industry professionals. It has enhanced my skills in collaboration, conducting meetings, and making presentations. Overall, this experience has been instrumental in boosting my skills and confidence, and I'm really pleased with the progress.
